Cage-free eggs: they’re becoming a staple on restaurant menus and, increasingly, in the ingredient decks of a variety of grocery products. More than 200 retailers, restaurants and food manufacturers have committed to using only cage-free eggs, and most of them have promised to do so by 2025. Many others are following suit.

However, these commitments may have been made prematurely, and not because the practice of using cage-free eggs and responding to consumer demands isn’t a noble endeavor. Rather, it’s because some analysts suspect it simply may not be possible.

The popularity of almond milk, soy milk, rice milk and other plant-based dairy alternatives continues to rise, and they’re forecast to represent 40% of the combined total of dairy and dairy alternative beverages.

A major contributing factor to the increased market share is the 36% of consumers who believe these non-dairy alternatives offer greater health benefits. Aside from a small percentage of the population that is allergic to dairy or chooses a vegan lifestyle, however, these marketing claims — among others — often don’t ring true.

Consumers in the U.S. eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup every single year. Tomato soup is the second favorite, topped only by chicken noodle. However, it’s hard to argue that any other is more versatile than creamy tomato soup which can be enjoyed on its own or used in other recipes such as chili, casseroles, stews, Mexican dishes, Italian classics and more.

No summer cookout is complete without the right condiments, as evidenced by the growing number of condiment varieties filling grocery aisle shelves. Whether topping burgers and hot dogs with nacho cheese, slathering ribs with barbecue sauce or stirring mayonnaise or dressings into potato salad or coleslaw, the right sauces can add some flair to just about any dish.

The decadent, creaminess of Alfredo sauce has been a beloved Italian flavor profile of consumers for more than a century. Restaurants and food manufacturers continue to offer products to meet the demand.

The egg market has seen considerable volatility in recent months and years, not only in the form of shell eggs, but for dried, frozen and liquid egg products as well. Since mid-January 2018, nest run egg pricing saw a 121% price increase and are now priced more than four times what they were a year ago. Dried egg yolk remains 66% higher than a year ago and frozen yolks rose nearly 100%. Liquid white prices have more than doubled in 2018 alone.

Butter and cheese continue to make headlines as demand for the products soar, driving prices up in the U.S. and abroad. Some analysts speculate that butter and cheese prices will continue to climb, while others suggest a sharp correction in markets is on the horizon.

There was a time when butter was perceived as an “enemy” of the heart- and health-conscious. While dietary moderation remains key, the long-held belief has changed. Consumers now clamor for “natural” foods and fats, as evidenced by the average butter consumption per person having gone up a full pound since 2006. Their purchase decisions are driving a butter renaissance that has netted $2.8 billion in sales in 2016. Compare that against $1.4 billion in vegetable oil-based margarine sales over the same period, and butter’s popularity is anything but spread thin.

Food manufacturers are facing a dilemma. Current food trends indicate that consumers want wholesome, nutritional, sustainable, natural, ethically sourced and easy-to-pronounce ingredients on their labels. That’s quite a list, and that lineup alone can be a major application challenge. Add to that the enduring trend that demands convenience and value, and some manufacturers are left in a quandary.

Extreme price volatility can create headaches for food processors. In 2016 alone, the price of Class III cheese rose from just under $13 per hundred weight in May to nearly $17 only three months later. As dairy prices continue to be unstable and, in some cases, reach record highs, the pressure is on food manufacturers to produce the same high-quality products while keeping their prices under control.